Mechanism for operating engine-house doors



A. COLEMAN.

No. 350,913. Patented Oct. 19, 1886..

W H} t NITED rates 'ATENT tribe,

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING ENGINE-HOUSE DOORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,913, dated October 19. 1886.

Application filed March 6, 1886. Serial No. 194,243. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABNER COLEMAN, of Taunton, county of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Mechanism for Operating Engine-House Doors, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide efficient means for automatically opening and closing engine-house doors.

In accordance with this invention, the doors when closed, are locked in anyusual manner, as by a bolt, and suitable weights suspended from cords attached to the front side of the door opposite the hinges follow in a pneumatic tube to open the said doors automatically when the bolt is withdrawn, while another weight, following in another pneumatic tube, .and controlled by a latch, operates to automatically close the doors after the same have been opened the latch being operated by alever depressed by the weight of the engine in passing from the enginehouse.

The invention consists in the combination, with a door having a cord connected thereto, said cord passing over pulleys revolving upon fixed brackets, of a weight suspended from the free end of the said cord and following in a pneumatic tube to automatically open or close the door; also, in the combination, with a door having two cords attached thereto and passing over suitable pulleys mounted in fixed bearings, of a weight suspended from the free end of one of the said cords and following in a pneumatic tube to open the door, and a weight controlled by a latch, following in another pneumatic tube, to automatically close the door; also, in other details of construction, to be hereinafter described.

The drawing shows in front view the ordinary doors of an engine-house, with suitable appliances for automatically opening and 010s ing the same, constructed in accordance with this invention.

The folding doors AB, hinged to the framework O, are of any usual or suitable construction. Suitable projections, a a, of similar construction, are secured to the top portions of the meeting edges of the doorA B by screws 2. Two cords, 6, connected to the projections a a, extend in opposite directions and pass over light pulleys b If, mounted to rotate on fixed brackets b, secured to the frame-work O. Weights c, of similar dimensions, are suspended from the free ends of each of the cords b, said weights following in pneumatic tubes 0 of sufficient height to permit the weights 0 to drop sufficiently far to open the doors. Like cords or chains, d, are also connected to the projections to a, and extending therefrom in opposite directions similar to the cords or chains 1). The cords d first pass over pulleys cl, mounted in brackets fixed to the frame work 0, and then passing over pulleys (1 also mounted in brackets fixed to the framework 0, the said cord carrying at its free end a small weight, 6, which follows in a pneumatic tube, 6. Suitable weights, 0", somewhat heavier than the weights 0, are placed in the pneumatic tube 0, said weights being bored vertically to permit the cords or chains (Z to pass freely therethrough. The weights 0 are provided with a shouldered end piece, 6 to be engaged by a pivotedspringcontrolled latch, 6, having a cord or chain, 6", connected with the said latches and passing over pulleys e, the opposite ends of said cord being connected with pivoted levers f, which latter are located upon the ground or pavement at the entrance to the engine-house, and extending over the usual track or guide-way, f, so that as the engine passes from the house the levers f will be depressed by its weight, thereby releasing the latches 6* and permitting the weights 6" to drop to automatically close the door, as will be here inafter described. The pneumatic tubes 0' and e are each provided with petcocksm, to control the pressure of air contained within the tube. The doors, when closed, are locked by a bolt, 9, connected by a suitable cord, 9', which passes in usual manner beneath the ceiling, and its free end depends within the reach of the drivers seat of the engine.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The doors A B are normally closed, and retained so by the bolt 9. When it is desired to automatically open the doors, the driver pulls the cord 9, withdrawing the bolt 9, at which time the weights 0, normally at the top of the pneumatic tube 0, fall slowly, and by means of the cord I), open the doors, during which time the small weight e, suspended from the cord 01, rises 'until it strikes the lower end of the weight e*. The engine then passes out, and in doing so depresses the leversf, releasing the springcontrolled latches e, the heavier weights, 6', bearing upon the small weight 6,

they do not fall as the latch e" is thus operated.

The doors are then closed by hand and locked by the bolt g.

By the construction herein described the doors may be automatically opened and closed when desired, and the mechanism employed being simple, will not easily get out of order.

It is obvious that, if desired, sliding doors may be opened and closed in substantially the manner herein described without departing from my invention, and, if desired, hydraulic tubes may be employed instead of pneumatic tubes herein described. It will also be seen that by employing the means herein described as a cushion for the weights 0 e the latter commence to fall quickly, and as the pressure increases fall more slowly, so that the doors startto open quicklyand continue more slowly.

I claim 1. The combination, with a door having a cord attached thereto and fixed pulleys over which the cord passes, of a weight attached to the free end of the cord or chain, and following in a pneumatic tube, whereby the door will be opened or closed automatically, all substantially as described.

2. The combination,with a doorhaving cords 0r chainsb 01 attached thereto and fixed pulleys over which the said cords pass, combined with a weight suspended from the end of the cord 1) and the pneumatic tube 0, in which the said weight follows, the small weight e, attached to the end of the cord d, the automaticallycontrolled weight 6 and pneumatic tube 6', in which the said weight follows, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a door, of a cord or chain attached thereto, a fixed pulley over which the said cord passes, a weight, 6 and a pneumatic tube, 6, in which the said weight follows, the latch e", releasing the said weight, and means, substantially as described, controlled by the weight of the engine, for con trolling the said latch c, all as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name 

